Big B adopts 90-year-old freedom fighter

A peek into the tall heart of Amitabh Bachchan

Last night’s function at CNN-IBN haunts me still. The conviction and strength of those that have dared to fight for their right, for justice, for level playing ground. These men and women who have dared to expose not only those that sit in power or position, but themselves as well. They who have dared to fight, winning some losing some but never giving up. They who have all risen from meagre means and become the voice of an entire nation. They need to be saluted.


February 16, 2010 Tue 7 : 53 PM

In the wilds of my beautiful country

The sound of silence is the loudest when you are not sure it exists. It pierces through the ears like a sharp arrow, numbing your thoughts into a forgetful journey that takes you no where. Its a state one has often wanted to be in and when it comes along suddenly, it surprises you completely, consuming you of all energy and action. Converting one into an idle mind.


One has desired this for long. For long have I said to myself that invigoration to the mind can only come when we are kept distant from sundry and everyday thought. I find myself in such a state. Oblivious of surroundings and location, away from civilization, away from mobile phones and any connection other than what reprints here within the post.


Sublime …!!!


Last night’s function at CNN-IBN haunts me still. The conviction and strength of those that have dared to fight for their right, for justice, for level playing ground. These men and women who have dared to expose not only those that sit in power or position, but themselves as well. They who have dared to fight, winning some losing some but never giving up. They who have all risen from meagre means and become the voice of an entire nation. They need to be saluted.


A man who has lost his legs in a train accident and has taken it upon himself to demonstrate not just the courage of survival, but finding artificial limbs now working on telling the system what they need to do for such accidents to be avoided and such victims to be given better treatment and assistance. A wheel chaired man, who dares to walk on his haunches because he is now crippled thus, convinced that he will write the best poetry ever and challenges that he will win. The lady sold to pimps in prostitution, who dares to escape and not just live but finds an opportunity to catch the individual that put her in that degrading and despicable world and hand them over to the police. A Father that still fights the system in finding out and punishing those that took his son away and killed him, but still not succeeding. A bureaucrat though maligned by the common man for corruption, that continues to execute his duty towards society by caring for those that are of lesser means and building accommodation for them. A young school girl of 13 that questions the fee asked from her school for those that are supposed to get free education, and that has through her own initiative pulled away children her age and lesser from child labor and put them into institutions to educate them. A journalist that is determined to expose an entire clan of people that threaten him with violence. That 90 year old freedom fighter, an old lady that has been fighting now for years to receive her due pension and not giving up …


The tales carry on ..


I am moved by their plight. Particularly that of the 90 year old lady and have announced that I shall take care of her pension for the next 5 years. She blesses me. She has only that element of humanity left in her. She can barely walk. And she is old. And all she wants is her due - her pension - Rs 3,500 /- per month from the Government !!


You feel so small in front of such examples of exceptional quality. And you wonder sometimes at how blessed we ought to feel for all the care and goodness bestowed upon us by the Almighty. When I compare myself with these exceptional men and women, their conditions and their grit, I feel ashamed at myself and embarrassed. I am also hugely impressed at the intent and value of these countrymen, their determination and will to fight against all odds with little care for its consequences on them personally. This is the true Indian. They are the pride of our nation. We are nothing compared to them. It is they that make this nation what it is.


I must end with my observations on our blog. I notice now how deeply interested the media is becoming of our little inconsequential world. The media that meets me for promotional activity of the upcoming films barely asks anything about the film or its promotions. They ask about current situations, they dissect the writings on the blog, study each word and expression, derive their own assumptions and convert them into stories of immense proportions. I feel honored that they do this. I never realized that our little world of the FmXt would become so important to those that rule the world of communication, that it would reduce them to giving us so much importance. Its another matter that they bark up the wrong tree and build bridges over rivers where rivers never existed. But we need to be in celebration of this attention. We are now important bloggers and respondents. I am proud of our extended family. We are being noticed and discussed. Well done !!


The silence pierces again … it is time to give it its due ..

And time to give due as well .. my love

Amitabh Bachchan

courtesy: bigb.bigadda.com